ArtiCAD Basics
Measurements: All measurements (widths, depths heights etc) are in whole millimeters. Angles are measured in whole degrees.
Edit: This applies to all items in your design, not just Wall items. Highlight the item you wish to edit by left-clicking on it, then press the 'F1' key on your keyboard. This will bring up the properties of the selected item which you can then change. Click 'OK' to confirm your changes, or 'Cancel' to revert it to the previous settings. (Some keyboards have multiple functions for the function keys. If the 'F1' doesn't work for you, you may need to hold the 'Fn' button at the same time)
Undo: You can undo the last change you made to your design by clicking 'Edit' - 'Undo' or pressing 'CTRL' and 'Z' on your keyboard.
![](https://img.zohostatic.eu/zde/static/images/info.png)
NOTE - you can keep undoing changes back to when you loaded your BathCAD session.
In and Out: In means the item will open or move into the room. Out means the item will open or move out of the room.
Default Sizes: Certain properties will have an Asterix (*) either side e.g. *2400* or *600*. This shows a default size has been used, usually defined under 'This Design' - 'Room Settings'. If you wish to alter a default value make sure you delete both of the Asterix. The change will only affect the current item. For the change to affect the entire design, change it under 'This Design' - 'Room Settings'. If you wish to return a value to it's default, enter a single Asterix in the box.
External: Select this option for external walls. The wall section will be drawn thicker
Wall
Creates a straight section of wall in the current direction.
Example 1
1000 wide wall, turn, 1000 wide wall (external).
Join
Creates a special section of wall that runs from your current position on the plan back to your starting point.
Should be the last item added to your walls layer. Only one 'join' is required.
Example 1
Bottom-left corner of a design without a join and with a join.
Door
Creates a single doorway. Two doors can be entered side-by-side to create a double/french door.
Width: The total width of the doorway, including architrave.
Height: Total height of the doorway, including architrave. If the ceiling height is higher than the door height, a lintel will be drawn in above the door, along with coving (if specified).
Height Off Ground: Distance from the bottom of the doorway to the floor level. Used when creating a step-down into a room. See Cubes and Wedges for details.
Width of Architrave: Width of architrave around the door. Can be set to 0 if no architrave is required.
Style: The type of door.
Hinged and Opening: The side the door is hinged and the direction it will open.
View: The view seen through glazed doors. For details on specifying the view, See Changing colours in your design for details.
Tiled: If selected tiling will be applied to the doorway (if the tiling is high enough to be seen).
To select a door that is on your design, left-click between the door jams (the green area on the image above).
Arch
Creates an archway.
Width: Width of the arch.
Height: Height of the arch. If the ceiling height is higher than the arch height, a lintel will be drawn in above the door, along with coving (if specified).
Arch Option: 'Open' will allow you to see through the arch to whatever is behind it. 'Screened' will fill the archway.
Arch Style: 'Square' will draw a square arch, the top of the arch being the arch height. 'Curved' will draw a curved arch, with the 'peak' of the curve being the arch height. Lowest point of the curve will be the arch height minus the curved arch height.
Curved Arch Height: Height of the curved section of a curved arch. Not used if 'square' arch selected.
Tiled: If selected, tiling will be applied to the arch (if the tiling is high enough to be seen).
Window
Selecting Window will bring up the traditional windows built into ArtiCAD. In the menu, the options are listed on the left hand side.
Additional windows will display more options for windows. Click 'Select' to browse through the options.
Make a selection by clicking the name of the item.
Width: Width of the window, including frame.
Height: Height of the window opening.
Height Off Ground: Distance from the floor to the bottom of the window opening.
Style: The type of window.
View: The view seen through the window. See Changing colours in your design for details.
Mullions: How many mullions across and down the window.
![](https://img.zohostatic.eu/zde/static/images/info.png)
NOTE - you must select 'Add Mullions' for them to appear
Depth of Reveal: The depth the window is set into the wall.
Tiled: If selected tiling will be applied above, below and on the reveal of the window.
Turn/Back
Changes the direction of your run of wall items by 90 degrees. A turn/back can be proceeded or followed by any other wall item.
Turn: Changes direction 90 degrees to the right, or clockwise.
Back: Changes direction 90 degrees to the left, or anti-clockswise.
Example 1
Starting from the red cross - 1000 wall, turn, 1000 wall, back, 1000 wall.
Rotate
Changes the direction of your run of wall items by a specific angle.
Rotation: The angle through which you wish to turn. Positive values turn clockwise, negative values turn anti-clockwise.
Example 1
Starting from the red cross - 1000 wall, rotate 45, 1000 wall, rotate -45, 1000 wall.
Example 2
A shallow bay window. Starting from the red cross - 500 wall, rotate -30, 500 window, rotate 30, 500 window, rotate 30, 500 window, rotate -30, 500 wall, turn, 2000 wall.
Alternatively you can use the Bay Window wizard. See Bay Window Wizard.
Point
A Point allows you to draw a wall, door, arch or window by specifying the distance along and out of the room. This can be useful if working from scale drawings.
In/Out
Creates a projection into or out of the current run of wall e.g. a stud wall, pipe boxing.
Starting from the red cross - 500 wall, 500 in, 500 wall, 500 out, 500 wall.
Space
Creates a gap in the run of wall. Different to an arch in that there is no lintel or coving drawn across the top to the space.
Round Wall
Creates a curved section of wall.
Radius: The radius of the curve.
Steps: The number of sections of wall that will make up the curve. The more steps, the smoother the curve will look.
Angle: The number of degrees the curved section will arc through. Positive values curve clockwise, negative values curve anti-clockwise.